Winthrop’s Elwell caps off freshman season with fourth place at Junior Nationals

Winthrop javelin thrower Preston Elwell completed his rookie track and field campaign last week by finishing fourth at the U.S. Junior National Championships held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

The rising sophomore from Signal Mountain, Tenn., set a personal record, throwing 59.85 meters (196 feet, 6 inches) to finish fourth in the strong field. The junior national championships are contested by American athletes 18 and 19 years old. Elwell was competing against a field of collegians and high school athletes.

“Preston finished off his freshman year very well,” said Winthrop head coach Ben Paxton. “He is poised to become a force in the Big South and the NCAA.”

With his fourth place finish, Elwell is an alternate for the U.S. team for the Pan American Games in August in Alberta, Canada.

“I think Preston would be stoked to get a chance to throw at the junior Pan Am Games,” said Winthrop throws coach Brett Best.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 11:21 AM with the headline "Winthrop’s Elwell caps off freshman season with fourth place at Junior Nationals."